Aircraft landing float



Nov. l., 1932. 4 H. BEAM 1,835,889

' AIRCRAFT LANDING FLOAT v Filed oct. 24, 1951 s sheets-sheet 1 .7.9dazumal:

Nov, 1, 1932. H. L. BEAM 1,885,889

AIRCRAFT LANDING FLOAT Filed oct. 24, 1951 s Sheets-sheet 2 #MmmmInventor WMM ,/1 Homey Nov. 1, 1932., H. l.. BEAM AIRCRAFT LANDING FLOAT3 Sheefs-Sheet l5 Filed Oct. 24. 1931 n M A w IQ u 7 /X/// Invenior v`/qltomey Patented Nov. 1,- 1932 ascisse PATENT OFFICE many L. BEAM, oro'r'rEn, MONTANA Arnenarr :QANDING FLoA'fr i Ap'plcation'led October 24,1931. Serial No. 570,934.

This invention relates to an improved land` field or platform for use onthe high seasv in the nature of a portable float.

a novel cellular concrete structure equipped with suitable appurtenancesand ,accommoda-` tions and characterizedprimarily by a huge platformfunctioning as a novel landlng field for airplanes and the like.

I 'have been inspired to developing the 1nventive conception to providea strong and dependable structure possessmg many features of merit fromagstandpoint of use, and an equal number of advantages from a standpointof economical construction. Q

The various devices and features constituting the cardinal factors ofimportance will become more specifically evident and under; stood fromthe following description and drawings..

, The drawings, though somewhat dlagrainmatic in general principle willsuiice to give a pictorial illustration of the fundamental parts andmeans thought necessary in the de-V velopment of a practical assembly.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view showin the preferredconfiguration and the approximate A relative positions of certain of thefeatures.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1. Figure 3 is -a transverse verticalsection taken on the plane of thew line 3-3 of FigiA pendicularconstructionalunit Figure 8 is a cross section through one of saidunits.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough. I

The structure may well be assembled and constructed on the bank of asuitable body of water. I have found it practical and economical toaccomplish this by building a dam at the mouth of an/ appropriatetidewater inlet or small bay which preferably has a normal nine foothigh water mark.

The trapped water is pumped out and the ground'graded to the desiredproportions and shape. This graded area of ground is covered or coatedwith cement to provide a suitable base or concrete foundation tovaccommodate the attendants, workmen and apparatus employed for completebuilding purposes.

The'marginal portion of the float may be constructed fromprecast'concrete units but is preferably made from units cast onsaidconcrete foundation. As seen in Figure 3, there are two sets ofperpendicular or vertical unitsy and each unit is broadly designated bythe numeral `10 and as seen in Figures 8 and 9, the unit is hexagonal incross sectionalshape and provided with internal reinforcing spiders 11.

For sake of distinction in Figure 3 the marginal units are distinguishedby the numerals 12 while the shorter nucleus units are denoted 75 by thenumerals 13. The shorter nucleus units co-operate with the main top orplatform 14 and an appropriate arrangement of partitions 15 in defininga multiplicity of general utility compartments 16.

I have not attempted to detail the various compartments. in shape, itbeing understood v'that these will be longitudinally and transverselydisposed and that the main central corridor from which the othercorridors and 5 passages branch will be provided with appropriateentrances having removable trap `doors or closures17, as seen forexample in Figure 1.

This assemblage of hexagon unitslO prosealed or fastened together so asto provide a substantially fiat bottom. The marginal' edges of theoutermost unit may be cement filled, so that the longitudinal side wallsand stern will be substantially fiat.

The bow of the fioat is generally distinguished .by the numeral 18 andas illustrated in the drawings substantially semi-circular inconfiguration. It is so constructed as to provide a multiplicity ofcompanion teeth 19 which function to rovide a Inovel breakwater. Thepointe ends of the teeth are preferably disposed so as to occupy a planeelevated above the bottom of the structure and to assume a levelsubstantially even with the normal low-water line, this being desirableto facilitate navigation and to allow the float to ride the waves, so tospeak.

The spaces or grooves betwen the teeth are shown in Figure 4, the lowergroove 20 being substantially shallow and the upper groove 21 muchdeeper. The grooves 20 facilitate the aforesaid riding action while thegrooves 21, serve as inlets for conducting the surface water and wavesinto a segmental channel 22 which functions as a trough andwhich-discharges the overow water into a multiplicity of radial ducts 23formed in the structure and communicating with an open bottomperpendicular chamber 24.

There is a suitable bearing 25 in this chami ber to accommodate a shaft26 carrg'ing a propeller 7 of appropriate form, sai propeller and shaftserving as a source of power to operate an electricity generator 28 inthe closed frontal compartment 29. Obviouslyl the generator is employedfor various power purposes.

For example, on the aft of the float may be one or more beacon lights3.0 to facilitate taking off and"landing of planes. At the stern of theoat I provide a gang of electric motors 31 having retractable propellers32 arranged for propulsion purposes, said motors being supp ied currentfrom the aforesaid generator 28.

In one of the compartments designated by the numeral 33 in Figure 4, Iprovide one or more sheaves 34 to accommodate a windlass cable 35 for ananchor 36 (see Figure 5 also).

. I also call attentionto the numerals 37 which designate wells toaccommodate lee boards 38 raised and lowered by suitable hoisting means(not shown) to serve as baliies to avoid 4undue side drift of thesiioat.

AIt is obvious of course, that the float as a'- u'nit is capable ofpropulsion from place to motors and propellers. Y

To` further facilitate the navigation I proplace through the provisionof the electric vide sailsandsuitable rigging and in this con- 05neetionI-invite attentionto Figure 6. In l'ection of said overflow water,saldfrontal this figure it will be observed that the numeral 39designate recesses at one end of which are formed countersunk ockets 40.Pivotally mounted as at 41 in t e pocket is' a mast 42, the mast beingretained in erectposltion by removable pins 43 fitting into anassociated socket in one wall of the pocket.

The numerals 44 designate stays having adjustable turnbuckles 45. Thesemasts serve to accommodate sails (not shown) or wireless apparatus, andwhen not in use are allowed to fold down into the recesses 39.

Through the medium of proper adjustment of motor driven propellers andsails and rig-4 ging, it is evident that the structure maybe moved fromplace to placeor when it has drifted from its predetermined point ofanchorage, can be returnedl to said' point for dependable landingconditions. The sails and rigging will also be found desirable instormyweather.

Many other desirable features for aocom- -modation and safeguard may beprovided in actual practice in order to add to the renements andimprovements of the structure as a whole. foregoing description anddrawings will sufice to give the reader a clear impression andunderstanding of the fundamental parts and essent al features believedto be necessary in providing a practical water landing field foraircraft.

It is believed however that the It is thought from the foregoingdescripi tion that the advantages and novel features of theinventionwill be readily apparent.

It is to4 be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended. claims.

I claim:

1. An aircraft landing structure for water usage comprising ahorizontally elongated cellular concrete fioat, said float beingfashioned at its bow to provide a substantially semi-circularbreakwater' embodying a plurality of pointed spaced teeth whose pointedends are disposed on a plane calculated to be substantially above oreven with thenormal water level. I

2. An aircraft landing structure for water usage comprising ahorizontally elongated cellular concrete float, said float'beingfashioned at itsbow to provide a substantially semi-circular brcakwaterembodying a plurality of pointed spaced teeth whose pointed ends aredisposed on a plane calculated to be substantially above or even withthe normal water level, and the spaces betweensaid teeth functioning aswater intake grooves forcenveying overflow surface water onto thefrontal portion ofthe deck of the oat, said mental channel constitutinga trough for colllt? - portion being further provided withan open ottomchamber, anda multiplicity of ducts affording communication between thetrough and chamber, that portion of the deck above said chamber beingfashionedto provide a compartment, an electricity generator in saidcompartment, a power shaft connected with the generator and dependininto said chamber and provided at its bot om with a propeller whereby toutilize the overow return water to operate the generator.

3. An aircraft landing structure for water usage comprising ahorizontally elongated cellular concrete ioat, said float beingfashioned at its bow to provide a substantially semi-circular breakwaterembodying a plurality of spaced pointed teeth whose pointed endsaredisposed on a plane calculated to be substantially above or even withthe normal water level, and the spaces between the teeth functioning aswater intake grooves for conf veying overflow surface water onto thefrontal portion of the deck of the float, said 6. A device of the classdescribed comprising a Abuoyant body having its front part lower thanthe rest of the body whereby waves will break over 'said front part, awell in the body opening out through the bottom thereof, means fordirecting water from said front part into the well,'a water wheel in thewell actuated by the water flowing through the same vand means forutilizing the motion of said water wheel.

7. A device of the class described comprising an elongated buoyant bodyhaving a semicircular break water at its front end, said break waterembodying a plurality of pointed spaced teeth whose pointed ends aredisposed on a plane substantially even with the normal water level.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

HARRY L. BEAM.

peller whereby to utilize the overl-low return water to operate thegenerator, a multiplicity of electric motors mounted on the stern of theoat and having propellers adapted to be submerged in the water, saidmotors being operable from current' supplied from the afore saidgenerator. Y

4. An aircraft landin ieldfor sea usage comprising a buoyant amultiplicity of perpendicular units assembled in nested relation andsecured together, the outer or marginal unit extending ody constructedof y from top to bottom of the structure and the nucleus of inner unitsbeing somewhat shorter, all of said units being preferably hexagf y onalin configuration, having a't top and I bottom ends, a concrete platformsecured to the marginal unit, partitions interposed between saidplatform and upper ends of the nucleus units and defining a multiplicityof passages and compartments.

5.' A buoyant body formed of a plurality of vertically arranged hollowVbo iescon nected together'in contacting relation with the outer bodiesof greater length than the inner bodies with the upper ends of the outerbodies projecting beyond the plane'of thev upper ends of the innerbodies to form a recess, the bottom of which is formed by the upper endsof the inner bodies.

